A new community bar, restaurant, and office space called The Cornerstone has opened in Rannoch, on the site of a former outdoor centre and school. The project was spearheaded by the Rannoch Community Trust with the aim of creating a welcoming and sociable space for residents living in this remote area. Entirely volunteer-led, the initiative successfully raised £1.7 million to bring the vision to life.
Lynsey Thomson, one of the four members of the Committee Board, told DRAM, “We wanted The Cornerstone to be a brand that would resonate with the community, and we developed the interior design and menu around that. It’s all about the community coming together. The local village has only 450 people, but the response has been great, and we’ve been full every night since we opened.
“The interior is zonal with original stone walls, booth seating and wood burning fire. We have used reclaimed wood from Rannoch and natural colours and materials. We also have a Winter Garden, outdoor seating, a firepit, a flexible office space, public toilets and a kids play area.
“We had long list off needs, but we’ve tried our best to put in something for everyone. It’s been a long road but a real community effort. When we opened it was a glorious day, and it was lovely to see 4-year-olds to 94-year-olds sitting there – it made it all worth it.”
The venue is still looking for staff and you can find all the information on the website.